As baseball historian Bill James writes in his 2008 Handbook, "arguably, there is more outstanding young talent around right now than at any other moment in baseball history." With that spirit in mind, let's look toward the stars of tomorrow with a countdown of the Top 50 prospects in baseball.
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Clay Buchholz, Joba Chamberlain, Evan Longoria and Jay Bruce are four of the brightest prospects in the majors heading into the new season.
10. David Price, SP, Rays Age: 22 | Ended 2007: Vanderbilt (College) | MLB ETA: Late 2008
Price was the No. 1 overall pick out of Vanderbilt in last year’s amateur draft. The lefty signed too late to make his pro debut in 2007, but he could start the season as high as Double-A and there’s a chance he’ll make his big league debut at the end of the year. Price is extremely polished. His fastball sits in the low to mid-90s and he complements that with a devastating slider that figures to be his bread and butter in the majors. He did throw 133 1/3 innings last year -- more than you’d like for a college pitcher -- but he was effective throughout, fanning 194 in his junior year.
Moustakas, the No. 2 pick behind Price last year, was Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year in 2007. He agreed to a contract with minutes to spare before the signing deadline, and, as such, was limited to 11 games in his pro debut. Still, he was impressive, racking up five extra-base hits and hitting .293 with a .383 OBP. There are questions about whether Moustakas can stay at shortstop long-term, and a shift to third could create problems with Alex Gordon entrenched at Kansas City. In the meantime, the Royals are happy to have one of baseball’s best hitting prospects in their system.
8. Cameron Maybin, CF, Marlins Age: 20 | Ended 2007: Detroit | MLB ETA: Late 2008
Maybin and pitcher Andrew Miller were the main pieces Florida received from Detroit in exchange for Miguel Cabrera this winter. The Marlins have had trouble finding a reliable center fielder in recent seasons, but the former Tiger should change that. Maybin was rushed to the majors last year, and it showed -- he had a .473 OPS in 24 games. He projects as an elite hitter down the line, with the ability to hit for average as well as power. The only real hole in his game is his tendency to strike out. Maybin whiffed 115 times in 2006 and 112 times in 2007, but there’s time to fix that.
Seattle Mariners' Adrian Beltre, right, talks with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt in the dugout in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, in Arlington, Texas. Beltre hit for the cycle and had five hits as the Mariners won 12-6. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
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Seattle Mariners' Adrian Beltre, right, smiles as he walks through the dugout in the eighth inning after hitting for the cycle against the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, in Arlington, Texas. Beltre had five hits as the Mariners won 12-6. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: (L-R) Manny Ramirez #99, Matt Kemp #27 and Andre Ethier #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate following their 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez;Matt Kemp;Andre Ethier
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Russell Martin #55 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Padres 5-2. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Martin
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Hong-Chih Kuo #56 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the game at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Padres 5-2. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hong-Chih Kuo
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Greg Maddux #36 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the second inning during the game at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Padres 5-2. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Greg Maddux
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Seattle Mariners' Yuniesky Betancourt, center, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
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Texas Rangers trainer Jamie Reed tends to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, right, as starting pitcher Matt Harrison, left, and manager Ron Washington, behind Harrison, look on in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, in Arlington, Texas. Saltalamacchia left the game with a sore right elbow. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
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San Diego Padres' Will Venable reacts after striking out in the fourth inning of an MLB Baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won 5-2. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre pulls Greg Maddux #36 from the game in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres during the game at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Torre;Greg Maddux
Widely considered the best hitter available in the draft last year, the Orioles surprisingly picked Wieters fifth overall. Baltimore traditionally doesn’t deal with Scott Boras clients, but it made an exception for the Georgia Tech product, giving him a $6 million signing bonus. He’ll make his professional debut in 2008, but he could move fast, especially for a catching prospect. Wieters never hit below .355 in his three seasons as a Yellow Jacket, and he was also remarkably patient and contact-conscious -- the backstop drew 152 walks and struck out only 108 times in college.
Rasmus took another step toward becoming St. Louis’ first impact position prospect in years. After a great year across two levels of Single-A ball in 2006, Rasmus stepped up his game in 2007, scoring more runs, hitting more doubles and home runs, and improving his on-base percentage and slugging average. Rasmus is thin and athletic and, according to most scouting reports, will stick in center defensively. He’ll head to Triple-A Memphis to open the season, but if the Cardinals hang around in the NL Central race, he could play a role on the major league club by midseason.
Kershaw isn’t the top pitching prospect in baseball, but he might have the highest upside. The southpaw reached Double-A at age 19 in his second year as a professional. He’s now struck out an absurd 217 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Kershaw has a typical pitcher’s build and the stuff to back it up, including a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout curve. After walking 1.2 hitters per nine innings in his 2006 debut, he did struggle with his command at times last year, walking 67 in 122 innings in 2007. Kershaw will likely return to Double-A to start the year, and while the Dodgers have plenty of pitching on hand right now, they might need him if a tight NL West race develops this summer.
4. Joba Chamberlain, SP, Yankees Age: 22 | Ended 2007: New York | MLB ETA: 2008
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Joba Chamberlain is the second-best pitching prospect.
You may have heard of Chamberlain. The thick right-hander made it all the way to the majors in his first year as a professional, pitching in a setup role for the Yankees and helping them nail down the wild card in the homestretch of the regular season. He stuck primarily with a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and a slider with tons of tilt in the majors. While those are his two best offerings, Chamberlain also has a decent curve and a changeup. Weight is going to be an issue for most of the New York hurler’s career, and he dealt with injuries in college, but with his build, stuff and statistics, Chamberlain could be an ace right away. And no, he doesn’t belong in the bullpen long-term.
3. Clay Buchholz, SP, Red Sox Age: 23 | Ended 2007: Boston | MLB ETA: 2008
This won’t go over well with Yankees fans. You may also have heard of Buchholz, who pitched a no-hitter in the second start of his major league career. With Curt Schilling’s future in doubt, the tall, thin right-hander could start the season in Boston’s rotation and could be its second best pitcher by year’s end. Buchholz sports four quality pitches -- a fastball in the low-90s, a 12-to-6 curveball, a changeup with great fade and a slider. While most see the curve as his best pitch, his change might actually be better. Buchholz struck out over 11 hitters per nine innings in the minors, while walking just over two. He’s not overpowering in the same way as Chamberlain, but the depth of his repertoire could make him better in the long run.
Longoria succeeded Troy Tulowitzki as the shortstop at Long Beach State and his major league future is every bit as bright as the Colorado star's. Tampa Bay slid Longoria over to third base, where he’s more comfortable defensively, immediately after drafting him in 2006, and he’s got more than enough power to be a star at the hot corner. With a career OBP of .388, Longoria clearly has an advanced approach at the plate, but he’s also got plenty of pop. He hit 26 homers last year between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, and there’s no reason he can’t match that production in the majors.
Bruce split time across three levels last year, playing his final 50 games with Triple-A Louisville. There’s a good chance he’ll start 2008 as Cincinnati’s regular center fielder. Bruce isn’t quite as polished as Longoria, with his plate approach lagging slightly behind, but he’s also two years younger. His power is prodigious. Like Longoria, Bruce went deep 26 times last year, but he showed much more gap power, racking up almost as many extra-base hits (80) as singles (86) in 2007. Notoriously veteran-friendly manager Dusty Baker might be the only thing between Bruce and an everyday job. It’ll be hard for Baker to ignore his talent.
blackwidow69ok, why the hell dont you go back to newyork. if new york is so great, what the hell are you doing in newengland, and redsoxnation. you dont belong in newengland. go back to the slums of newyork. better yet, go sit by roger clemens, because he is on his way to jail. he is a cheater, and looser like all the rest of the yankees, petitte, and knoblaugh, who else. ...looser
THE SOX RULE THE PATS RULE THE CELTS RULE HELL EVEN OUR MLS SOCCER TEAM MAKES CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS NOT THAT I LIKE SOCCER BOSTON IS THE BEST SPORTS CITY IN THE WORLD HEY NY WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT OH THE GIANTS WIN WELL 18 UP 18 DOWN TAKES A LOT OUT OF YA WE GAVE YA ONE BUT DONT WORRY THE PATS WILL BE BACK HOW BOUT THE JETS I DONT THINK SO GIANTS WONT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
Season hasn"t even begun and the Yankees are throwing out the numbers and in sults...Well who cares because the reality is...WHAT HAVE THE YANKEES DONE FOR YOU LATELY...answer.....NOTHING... I don't live in New England but for those of you that do and are on here making the insults about the Red Sox....Why don't you move...that would fix em.....and I am sure there would be lots of tears on the day you get out of town....what DOLTS you are.
i'll put it to you like this anytime you rank any prospect that hasn't played in a minor league game higher than a prospect that is playing minor league games then you know that there is something wrong with andrew johnson evaluations
